1. Seed Selection
The selection of seeds is very important because seeds are the beginning of life in farming. Choosing the wrong seeds will affect the results of farming. For satisfactory results, use hybrid varieties. This is because the advantages of hybrid varieties are very clear compared to local cultivars, both in terms of productivity and resistance to disease. Hybrid tomato seeds cannot be passed down to the second or third generation because, in the second generation, large variations will be obtained, both in shape, size, fruit color, and disease resistance.
2. Seeding
Tomato seeds are not planted directly in pots or polybags but must be sown first. Before sowing, it must be ensured that the nursery bed or nursery site is free of nuisance organisms, one of which is ants that can cut off the growing point when germination occurs. One of the direct seeding techniques for tomatoes is in a seedling tray with a seedling medium using a mixture of soil, sand, and manure. Watering the media should be done before the seeds are sown so that the seedling media becomes dense and the seeds are not too immersed in the media after re-watering. After the seeds are planted, the seeds are covered with a thin layer of media and re-watered. Tomato seed germination requires dark and warm conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to close the nursery for 3 - 5 days (early germination occurs)
3. Planting Seeds in Pots/Polybags
While waiting for the seeds to be 14-17 days after sowing or already have 3-4 leaves, pots/polybags and planting media can be prepared. Choose a pot/polybag with a diameter of at least 30 cm. Pots can be made of soil, plastic, used cans, or drums. The bottom of the pot/polybag should be given a hole first. The goal is that the water does not stagnate in the pot/polybag.
4. Preparing Planting Media
Planting media that can be used in tomato cultivation in pots/polybags is very diverse. This depends on the ease and ability to make or make. The most important thing is that the planting medium must be loose, fertile, and free of soil pests.
Alternative Growing Media Mixtures:
- Soil + sand + manure (1:1:1 or 2:1:1 ratio).
- Soil + husk + manure (1:1:1 or 2:1:1 ratio).
- Soil + manure (1:1 ratio)
Planting media should also be mixed with KCl and TSP fertilizers
sufficiently. To kill soil pests that may remain in the media.
The next step is to adjust the pH of the growing media to approach the value of 5.8–6.8. If the pH of the media is more than 7 or less than 5.8, plant growth will be stunted. The plant will grow stunted and less fertile. To achieve the ideal pH, the growing media can be added with lime, such as dolomite. After being mixed with lime, the growing media is left for 1-2 weeks before being used.
5. Filling Pots/Polybags
Planting media that has been prepared can be put into pots/polybags a few days before the seeds are transferred. The goal is that the planting media in pots/polybags is compact and dense enough when planted. Before filling with soil, make sure the bottom of the pot/polybag container has been perforated to
drainage (water channel). The pot/polybag is then filled with planting media so that it leaves approximately 5 cm from the lip of the pot/polybag. Pots/polybags are placed in an open space and get the morning sun.
6. Planting Seeds in Pots/Polybags
Seedlings are ready to be transplanted when the planting stage has 3-4 true leaves (14-17 DAS), sturdy stems, and well-developed roots. Planting seeds into pots/polybags is done carefully.
7. Maintenance of Plants in Pots/Polybags
Sanitation of diseased leaves must be carried out at all times by picking and overhauling. In addition, if there are pests, they are immediately eradicated either mechanically or with pesticides. However, efforts are made to avoid chemical control because the results of potted plants/polybags are usually to meet family needs
(own consumption). One month after planting, the plant is given a stake to support the plant. Water is given so that plants can grow upright and propagate.
8. Fertilizing Tomato Plants in Pots/Polybags
In contrast to tomato plants grown on land, fertilization in pot/polybag media is done once a week with a low dose. This is done to reduce fertilizer leaching due to watering. To stimulate vegetative growth, plants in pots/polybags can be fertilized with fertilizers containing high nitrogen. Fertilizer is dissolved in water, then shaken. Use ZA fertilizer 10 g/10 l of water. Entering the generative or flowering period, in addition to fertilizing with N fertilizer, potted plants need to be fertilized with P and K fertilizers. The composition of ZA, TSP, and KCl is 1:2:1 as much as 1-3 g/l water.
In addition to root fertilizers, plants in pots/polybags also need to be fertilized with foliar fertilizers because they contain good microelements. It is given by spraying once every 10-14 days with a low concentration or half the recommended dose. It should be noted that cultivation in pots/polybags is sought so that the balance between fertilizer and water must be maintained. The goal is that the conditions of the growing media are not too alkaline or cause poisoning or toxicity to plants. The easiest way to find out the state of the water in the planting medium is to lift the pot/polybag when it is dry and after it is wet and then compare its weight. If it is light, it means lack of water; whereas if it is very heavy and water drips or pools, it means excess water. In addition, during the generative period, fertilization is sought so that the need for calcium elements must be considered and considered. Lack of calcium will cause the physiological disease of fruit butt rot (blossom end rot).